Loading device



G. M. KILCARR LOADING DEVICE July 30, 1935.

Original Filed May 11, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR ATTORNEY G. M. K!LCARR July 30, 1935.

LOADING DEVICE Original Filed May ll, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. M. KILCARR July 30, 1935.

LOADI NG DEVICE Original Filed May ll, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Reissued July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING DEVICE Gilbert M. Kilca'r, New York, N. Y., assignor to Intel-state Equipment Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York 13 Claims.

This invention relates to loading devices.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel and improved loading device particularly adapted for the loading of cable-drawn tramway cars.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described of the batch loader type which will deliver to a tramway car a predetermined quantity of material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described, which will be automatically operated in response to movement of the tramway cars to load the same with a predetermined quantity of material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a device of the character described, a pivoted loading mechanism operable by gravity to control a feeding mechanism whereby a predetermined quantity of material will be supplied to the loader, after which the feeding mechanism will be stopped automatically.

Other objects of the present invention include the provision of a device having a. novel and improved combination and interrelation of parts whereby the whole is simple in Construction and operation and well designed to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

Other objeets and features of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an illustration of one form of the present invention in which the control for the r feeding mechanism is arranged for by suitable circuits and circuit closures;

Fig. 2 is a modified form of the invention in which a pneumatic control is used for the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the valve shown in Fig. '2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation in detail showing the loader door and assembly;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on lines 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the present invention is shown in combination with a tramway car system which includes cars or carriers Ifl, cables l l and upper and lower track sections I! and !3, respectively. In this connection lt` will benoted that the lower track :3 is bent to form a guide for the upper track I 2, while the upper track !2 is turned downwardly to form a guide for the lower track !3. It will be understood that the present invention is, however, not confined to the specific tramway system herein disclosed and that the invention may be used in the loading of material regardless of the type of car to which material is loaded or conveyor system therefor.

The present invention includes a suitable hopper l5 to which material is supplied in any desired manner, the lower end of the hoppe' discharging into a feeder bin IS the floor at the forward end of which is apertured as at IT, the material indicated at s being arranged to be supplied through the aperture l'l by movement of a feeder plate !9 arranged for mechanical association for movement in response to the energization of an electrical motor 20. Mounted adjacent the aperture I'I, a loader bin 2| is provided suitably supported on a pivoted cradle 22 which is pivoted as at 23 and counterbalanced by a weight 24, whereby the normal position of the loader bin 2! when empty will be in raised position as shown in Fig. 1. When the loader bin is full, however, the weight of the material therein will counterbalance the weight 24 and the cradle 22 will move downwardly to control the electrical circuit of the motor 20, as will be hereinafter described.

For automatically discharging material from the loader bin 2l to the car ID when the car is properly' positioned thereunder, an Operating arm 25 mounted upon the bin 2| is provided, which is adapted to be operated by the car to permit the feeder door 26 of the bin !i to open by gravity and by the weight of the material in the hopper, thus discharging the material to the car lfl. One preferred embodiment of the loader door controlling mechanism is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and will be hereinafter discussed in connection therewith. For automatically controlling the feeder motor 20 in response to movement of the cars n, reference may be had to the electrical circuit associated therewith, which includes the usual source of potential 21 connected by a conductor 28 with one side of the motor 20, while the other side of the motor is assoclated through the conductor 29 with a magnetically controlled switch 34. For energizing the switch 34 to start or stop the motor 20 the circuit controller is mountcd adjacent the upper track !2, whereby passage of the car to position under the loader will open the motor circuit, thus preventing operation of the feedlng mechanism during the time the door 26 is open. At the end of the upper track !2, a circuit controller 32 is provided in series with the controller 36, the circuit including a source of potential 33 and which is adapted to control the relay 34 mounted in conjunction with the circuit controller 30, the arrangement be ing such that as the car passes the i t fi pm x' i cz ..w n b broken, this stopping the feeding motor 26. After the car has been fully loaded, as its pase from the tracks the circuit controller 33 is operated, Whereby the relay 34 will be 'nergied and the motor reenergize i The circuit controller 3 is also associated by a. conductor 35 with the circuit controller 3|, which is mounted adjacent the end of the cradle !Lite normal position being closed with it's' 'opoz'ating arm 36 up. When the bin !i is full, the cradle 22 will move downwardly thus striking the arm 36 and breaking the ci'cuit to the motor' 20'. which circuit rernains broken until such time as the hopper is' empty* and' the Cradle again reim's the DQition shown in* Eig. 1. Fro'mftfhe 'foregoing it will readily be seen that the c cuit bontro llers !I and 32 provide'a' safety ivic b that shoi fld p bin 2: be only partially fun when m cta ac es the mouth of the bin, the ;notorwill B'automaticahy shut off, thu's p evefitihthe'operation of the feeding movement during the loading from the bin ZI. The fifut the r'elay 34 aso includes the door of the bin 'g iosing of which completes the circuit, the airrngenient being such thatoperation of the motor is prevented while the door is open. It win la-understan that the electrical circut in'- %Me only diagramnatically shown and the preent"invention is not' confined to any specific s tructi fe 'of dir'cuit controllers or relays there- "it will be readily unqerstood that the present inventionm ay be arrangedfo'r pneuhatic mtiv"ow`er in lied oi the electrical circuit iniolieda's shown in'Fig. 1. One form of the'p'eseit 'itventiori which utilizs pneumaticcontrol na b e lii stfatd ungs'. 2' to 7 'I'h'forni the inventi'on shown in Fig. 1 is designed primarii 'forme 'oadis of solid or semi-solid iatefial which will'not 'fiow`freely. 'Ijh'us the motor cohtfolled" feeng^mechanis n is required'. The pnum'tc "s'y eni, howeyer, is arranged for, ose wi h ree fiowirg material and thuthefeed m cna' sfm lega@ by a ;small gt a az mi the' phifigr 41. "For lo'sing tragete nection 43 or the tubing 43 With the exhaust connection 50, While the port 48 is arranged for associating the tubing 45 with either the inlet or the exhaust. With the valve plug 46 arranged in the position shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen that air from a. suitable source (not shown) pgss. #i p n the inlet ,9 th ough 'i i; ing 43 &Q Ju i p fngr to cls the wh the air in front of the plunger of the cylinder 42 passes through the tubing 45 to the port 48 to the exhaust 50. With the plug 46 rotating a fzu'artr turn in counterclockwise direction, the port gj will connect the exhaust 50 with the tubing 43, whereby ;the pressure will be admitted to the opposite end of the cylinder and the gate will ho openedand will be retained so.

Eor' n tfatin'g the valve plug 46, an extending cohtrollvr 5! is provided, which through association with' a spring 52 normally retains the plug in the position shown in Fig. 4. Associated With the lever 54, an anguiarly related arm 53 is connected by ;a link `5 4`to an Operating `lever` 55 tountd' adjacent 'the extremity 'of the upper track 82, and mounted to be struck by thesar a's it pssesfromthe track whereby the lini: '34 will be moved to rotate the plug in cunte'r clock- `'wise direction, thus ecmrecting the ir'let port: 43

with the tubing 46, whereby 'the blunger bfforced "re rwardfnd the' gat 40 will be opened and 67111 "be retained open until'the bin Z! -eceives its predetermined quantity of material, whereby thcrajdle 22`wi'i1 outbalance the weight ?4 and th cradle wil move downwardly carrying With it ar; appendej arm s which in strike the !ever 5 and rotate the plug in clockwisedirection, thus c'nnebting the tubime 43 with the inlet port (m, whereupon theplmger i! Will `be forced fp' wardiyl closin the ga'te 40. 'Ifheforn of the invention thus presentqhg no associated' neans for p'rvehting the the" g ate ;u 'it henflthe car is under the igadg 'binfas 'providedb'y the cirouitcontroler ;qin

i It will be readily understood that suitbl t' heicar m gn' a e Qthe sw t h bi' nt oi qmay be provided without q rg ing' frin the spirit or 'scope'or the present in vljitiofif 'Fofautomaticaiy opening the door &5 of the in 2 t e tru u p e nt or@ p clfl e y g ''ndffi nay be referred to. For clging the dql r z fi' hj h bin 2! is em ty. j tex f'ce t m Y d Wit m nswer!! etending arm 6.0, the etfemi ty of which eagles wei ht ?L 'fl j 'W'an t m u that. at t e nti i; tr' iolin'g pe th do w ll close. by" gra'v'ity. the weight providing suflint in: ertia to Swing the door past its normal depending pgs t nftioq h m y the neagem nt ot extendng side portions 62 of the door with pivoted dogs Fgor pivotaliy moving the gqgs 63't`o 'release e door, 'a pivoted Enki! is mg:: vded associ ted' wit' the dogs and extendipg outwariy thereof, being giided for movement bg e itable strap !3 5 o a o n ct d wi the link 64, an 'o'preng 66 provided, se, q d Y a Pin t ik 644 ts n ast being' pivotal y e r wit a me i? me is mounted' upo theshte of the bin 2 and whih car'ies pivotally associated therewith, the dogs gt The lower end ot the arm 66 is adated` to me maiy ma position adjacnt'tntr,

the door 26. The door 26 is further provided withextending side portions 69 which are adapted teresi; upon the side flanges of the car lil and which by such engagement force the door to a fully opened position and retain it so that the car pass-es the-reunder. It will be understood that after the car is loaded and it moves from engagement with the projecting portions 69 of the door, the door will be swung closed due to the inertia of the weights Gi, and upon so swinging will engage the dogs 53, rocking them about their pivots so that the extending portions 62 of the door will be received and retained in the dogs 63, as shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the invention provides a simple and efficient structure for carrying out the objects of the present invention as herein outlincd. It will also be seen that the invention is applicable to pneumatic or electrical operation.

` It will be understood that the invention is not confined to the specific structure or Operating medium here shown and that numerous changes and modifications in the structural details and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas outlined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

`1L-The combination with a plurality of carriers, a feeder bin and a motor-actuated feeding device associated therewith, of a pivoted cradle, a loader bin carried by said Cradle, means operable by movement of said cradle for controlling the operation of said motor. and means operable by movement of carriers in a position which is in advance of the loading position of said carriers under said loader bin to prevent actuation of said motor.

2. The combination with a plurality of carriers, a feeder bin and a motor-actuated feeding device associated therewith, of a pivoted cradle, a loader bin carried by said Cradle, means operable by movement of said Cradle for controlling the operation of said motor, means operable by movement of carriers in a position which is in advance of the loading position of said carriers under said loading hopper to prevent actuation of said motor, and means operable by movement of carriers from beneath said loader bin to permit actuation of said motor.

3. The combination with a plurality of carriers, a feeder bin and a motor-actuated feeding device associated therewith, of a pivoted cradle, a loader bin carried by said cradle, means operable by movement oi" said cradle for controlling the operation of the motor, means operable by movement of carriers adjacent said loader bin to prevent actuation of said motor, and means operable by movement of carriers adjacent said loader bin to permit actuation of said motor, said means including an electrical circuit for said motor, a carrier-actuated circuit controller and a c'adleactuated circuit controller.

4. The combinaton with a plurality of carriers, a feeder bin and a motor-actuated feeding device associated therewith, of a pivoted cradie, a loader bin carried by said Cradle means operable by movement of said Cradle for controlling the operation of said motor, means operable by movement of carriers adjacent said loader bin to prevent actuation of said motor, means operable by movement of carriers adjacent said loader bin to permit actuation of said motor, said means including an electrical circuit for said motor, a carrier-actuated circuit controller and a Cradleactuated circuit controller, and an associated circuit and relay for resetting said carrier-actuated circuit controller by movement of said carrier from beneath said loader bin.

5. In a loading device, a carrier movable past and under the device, a loader' bin, coacting means on the carrier and loader bin for eflecting the discharge of the contents of the latter into the former when it reaches a position thereunder, a feeder bin disposed over the loader bin, mechanism for feeding material from said feeder bin to the loader bin, means operable by the loader bin when filled for rendering the feeding mechanism inactive and means subsequently operable by the carrier in a position which is subsequent to and which is spaced wholly from the loading position of the carrier below the loading device for rendering said feeding mechanism active.

6. In a carrier loading device. a carrier movable past and under said loading device. a loader bin, coacting means on the carrier and loader bin for efiecting the discharge of the contents of the latter into the former when it reaches a position thereunder, a feeder bin disposed over the loader bin, mechanism for feeding material from the feeder bin to the loader bin, means for rendering said feeding mechanism inactive when the loader bin is filled, means for rendering the feeding mechanism inactive when the loader bin is discharging, means operable by the carrier in a position which is in advance 'of the loading position of said carrier under the loader hin for rendering said feeding mechanism inactive, and means operable by the carrier when it is in a position which is subsequent to and which is spaced wholly from said loading position for permitting actuation of the feeding mechanism.

7. In a carrier loading device, a plurality of carriers successively movable past and under the device, a loader bin having an outlet, a closure therefor, hatch means for holding said closure in closed relation, means on the carriers for releasing the latch means when the carriers reach a loading position under the loader bin, a feeder bin disposed over the loader bin, mechanism for feeding material therefrom to the loader bin, means operable by the loader bin when filled for rendering the feeding mechanism inactive, means for preventing actuation of said feeding mechanism when the closure of the loader bin is opened and permitting actuation thereof when. the closure of the loader bin is closed and means disposed in the path of movement of and operable by the carrier when said carrier is in a first position prior to and spaced from said loading position and when said carrier is in a position subscquent to and spaced from said loading position for respectively stopping and initiating the actuation of the feeding mechanism.

8. In combination, a plurality of carriers, a device for loading the same and past and under which device said carriers are succcssively moved, said device including a feeder bin, a subterposed carrier loading bin, a circuit including electrically actuated mechanism for feeding material from the feeder bin into the loader bin, means for mounting said loader bin for limited downward movement when filled, means for breaking the circuit to said mechanism when the loader bin is filled and depressed, said loader bin having a discharge outlet and a closure therefor releasable when the carrier reaches a position thereunder, means for breaking said feeding mechanism circuit when the loader closure is opened and for ampe in se m mi when ,it i cl s m a fer b eaking the ciruit o t .feiling` mac eni s !ben ,the or i re pp h h din device and means for closing said circuit when h cwier ave th oad n de ic In mb na io a luralit of rr f a d w n ed to guide ai a er& i a predeern ined path, means external to said carr fim* me i eid er rs. a motor-d iv Iegr to; supplxin material to said oarriers at a gtedgmined loading position in said path, and gnrol nean fol.: said motor said control bi p eable y thelmovem n o said arrir positions which precede and follow &Aid m nin' p sifi n n w i are wholly pac mi & loadi os on 10. n ombina-Sion, a plurality of oarriers and fixed means adapted t o guide said carriers in a xe e mm d. Rain m n& ex i d igs for driving said a fiers, a motor-driven feedeqflor supplying material to said carriers at a pregiermined loading position in said path, and control means for said motor, said control nan bei-ng. operable by the moyement of said amero control positions which precede and toll i aid adi p si and w ch are whoy smood ;rom said loading position, said control positions 01: the carriers being adjacent said loadns mi lim- 1 1. ombination, a plurality of carriers and fixed means adaptel to guide the same in a. predfit mmefl path, loading means having gate means and op able to suocesively load said car rie s at a predetermined loading position in said pat lncon t'ol means for said gate means, said coniri means being operable by the movement oi the ea riers in said path in contrqlpqmong of ai car iers whic rec d and m follow h h are spaced wh o aid oading sit on a m mber & a el b the wei h i' a load the movement of said member being efl'etie to also operate said control means 12. In combination, a plurality of carniexs and means.` adapted to guide the same in a preqtrmned path, loading means operated by a motor and operable to successively load said qu t-lere at a predeermined loading position in said path. control means for said motor, a member op rebe by the weight of a load, said control means, being ope'able by the movement of said carrier& in, said path in control positions of said oa'ri r which p'ecede and which follow and which ar Spaced wholly from said loading position and being also operable by said Weight-operated member.

13. A loading devioe oomprising a. chutehaving a first gate, a pivoted cradle, a hopper mounted on said cradle and located below the month of said chute, said hopper having asecond. game, a motor for Operating said first gate, a control de vice for said motor, a fixed track on which cars can move towards and away from said hopper, said control device being operable upon the descending movement of said hopper to' cause said motor to close said first gate, said control device having a member projecting into the path of movement of said cars and opeable by the move;-

ment of a car in a position which is subseq uen to and which is spaoed wholly from its loading position under the hopper, to cause said: momto open said first gate.

GILBERT M. 

